Trace-holder.



J. BODENSTEINER.

TRACE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1913.

1,1 19,231, Patented Dec. 1,1914.

WITNESSES INVENTOA ns NORRIS PEYERS 1:0. F'HOTO LITHO.. WASH/Moron. I) LJOHN BODENSTEINER, 0F WALHALLA, NORTH DAKOTA TRACE-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed August 20, 1913. Serial No. 785,767.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Boonnsrnmnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Walhalla, in the county of Pembina and State of NorthDakota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace Holders; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to trace holders, and one of the principalobjects thereof, is to provide means for holding the free ends of thetraces of a set of harness when not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a trace holder which willbe simple in construction, durable and efficient in operati on, andinexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connecting means forthe back straps, the hip straps, and the crupper of a set of harness,said means also acting as a trace holder.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views, in which,

Figure 1, is a top plan view of my invention as secured in place on aset of harness, one end of a trace being shown attached to the holder.Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig.3, represents a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 1, represents a side elevational view of the spring.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 5, indicates the back strapof a set of harness, 6, the hip straps, 7, the crupper, and 8, a trace.The holder is preferably formed in one piece, and comprises asubstantially rectangular buckle providing parallel end bars 9, whichconnect a pair of rectangular members 10, to the lower bar 11, of one ofwhich, the crapper 7, is attached, the back strap 5, being attached tothe lower bar of the opposite member. The end bars 9, connect themembers or frames 10, above the horizontal plane of the lower bars 11thereof, and at the meeting points of bars 9 and frames 10, are formeddown- 'ardly curved arms 12, which are connected by bars 13, said barsbeing offset below the horizontal plane of end bars 9, but lying in thehorizontal plane of bars 11 of frames 10. Hip straps 6, are secured oneto each of bars 13. Connecting bars 9, at their central portions, is across bar 1%, which has formed thereon two pairs of spaced ears 15, saidpairs being disposed on opposite sides of the central line of bar 14,and secured between each pair of ears, is one loop 16, of a bent leafspring 17, said loops being secured in place by means of studs or rivets18.

Formed on bars 9, and constituting a continuation of cross bar 14, are apair of upwardly and inwardly curved hooks 19, said hooks having theirupper ends bent outwardly as at 20. The ends of leaf spring 17, extendupwardly from ears 15, and have their upper ends curved inwardly as at21, and normally bear against the upper end of hooks 19. It will benoted that spring 17, is made of a single strip of material, doubledupon itself at predetermined points to form the loops 16. The ends ofthe spring above the loops 16, are considerably wider than the remainingportion of the spring, so as to afford a broad bearing face againsthooks 19.

l/Vhen the harness is not in use, traces 8, may be attached to theholder by means of the eyes 22, commonly provided on traces, whereby thetraces will be kept out of the dirt and in easily accessible position,and in a position which will not interfere with the placing of theharness on a horse. In attaching a trace to the holder, the eye will beinserted between the curved portion 20, of hook 19, and curved portion21, of spring 1.7, and forced downwardly between said hook and spring.It will be understood that each of the traces of a set of harness, willbe attached to one of the hooks, only one trace being shown attachedhowever.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, Imay desire to make such changes in the construction, 1. 5"

combination and arrangement of parts as do not depart from the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto se- 1' 3i cure by Letters-Patent is;

In a trace holder the combination with trally thereto, a pair, ofsubstantially S shaped upstanding hook bars formed adjacent theextremities of said longitudinal bar and integral therewith, a pair ofspaced socket ears formed centrally of said bar, a springmemberincluding a body portion, integral loops formed on the ends theretoCopies of this patent may be obtained for and positioned in said socketears and a pair of upstanding spring portions in- 15 Wardly curvedadjacent their extremities and contacting with said S-shaped bars, andmeans for securing said spring loops in said socket ears.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 20 name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN BODENSTEINER.

Witnesses: v

GEORGE BODENSTEINER, T.-1'). STACK.

five cents each, by addressing the Commiss ioner of Patents. Washington,D. G.

